Electric level indicator for liquids



June 10, 1924. 1,497,178

c o. LORENZ ELECTRIC LEVEL INDICATOH FOR LIQUIDS Filed July 20, 1917 2Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOHNEY June 183, 1924. 1,497,178

C.OLORENZ ELECTRIC LEVEL INDICATOR FOR LIQUIDS Filed July 20. 1917 2sheets sheet Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CELRLES O. LORENZ, OF PORT ARTHUR. TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEXAS COMPANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

ELECTRIC LEVEL INDICATOR FOR LIQUIDS.

Application filed July 20,

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES O. Lonmtz, acitizen of the United States, residing at Port Arthur, in the county ofJefferson and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Im rovementsin Electric Level Indicators or Liquids, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to measuring ap aratus for gaging the depth ofstrati ed liquids and has for one object to provide a simple andimproved instrument that shall be portable and especially adapted toaccurately gage the water and the oil in oil storage tanks.

In practice when oil is toredin tanks, it is common to have vargngquantities of water resting in a disti ct stratum in the bottom of thetank, tl separation being established and maintained by reason of thedifference in the spec fic gravities of the liquids. \Vhile myimyluition is particularly designed and adapted for determining thewater level in oil tanks, it is suitable for gaging any liquids .lyingin strata which differ in electrical conductivity.

.'\ct -ording to 'my' invention, I employ a graduated metal gage line.with a terminal or contact. weight at its outer end, a galva nometer orother equivalent indicator, and a suitable SOItlttHOf electrical energy,such as a battery mounted in a portable case, one terminal of thegalvanometer circuit being connected generally to the liquid to begaged, as for example. by connecting it to the tank in which the liquidis contained, if it is metal; the other terminal of the circuit beingconnected through the galvanom eter and the metallic gage line. The arrangement'. is su h that. the circuit is completed through the liquid assoon as the gage line comes in contact with the surface and the extentof galvanometer deflection indicates the change from a liquid of oneconduetivit to a liquid of a greater or less conductivity.

O her objects and advantages of my invention will be set forthhereinafter, and I will now describe the same with reference to thedrawin s and point out the novel features thereo? in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is w perspective view of the tanligaging apparatus of my invention, il-

1917. Serial in. 181,863.

lustrating its use for determining the level of liquids contained in a.metal tank.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the ga ing apparatus with the footsupport in the olded position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a top view, and Figure 5 an end elevation of the apparatusfolded ready to be transported.

Figure 6 is a wiring clia ram-showing the circuit connections of thedevice of the preceding figures. I

Figure 7 is a plan View, Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 9an end elevation of the spool on which the gage line is wound,illustratin how it is con nected in circuit electrical y and how it issecured mechanically in position within the instrument case.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the apparatus consists of agalvanometer casing 1 provided with an indicator dial 2, a circuitthrough the galvanometer (not shown) being effected by an electricalconnection between the metallic gauge line conductor 3 and the conductor4. In the said figure the apparatus is shown as it appears when, inoperation on a roof of a metal tank A, tlie instrument case resting atone end upon the edge of hatch a. and being provided at its opposite endwith the adjustable supporting legs 5. Attached to the hatch is a metalclip 6, made preferably of some non-rusting substance as brass: and theconductor 4 is hooked to the said clip. The gauge line 3 emerging fromthe instrument case through a suitable slot 3 passes over a rollen qhat.

the end of a supporting rod 8 pivoted at 9 upon a bracket 10 secured tothe top of the instrument case. At its outer end the gun e line isprovided with a 100 11 into whic is hooked the upper end 0 the weight 12which acts by gravity to ay out the conductor 3 when the latter [5released at the instrument. The weight 12 is also connected to the gaugeline by means of a small contact wire 13. The w'eight 12 may, ifdesired, be equipped with a steel point 12.

In the wiring diagram of Fig. 6. 1 cates the gauge line case, connected/y a wire 14 to a sensitive galvanomYber 15, which is provided with anappropriate shunt resistance 16. It is sometimes referable to use aseries resistance in p ace of ill 12 be drawn out.

liquid rui'iduoh'iiy, l ll liquid izisailni'or. s l

- eh as indicalell l.

P. {)r if the i.

kl linuirl. whi h is no! Flli l3, ici iiziii l tare formed ll": r r

The gauge line we prov l tact to which is electrically comicviw l wirel4; and as above pointed ouli. he misc eleclricsll Neill ed with thegauge line i poi The case 1 is provided 15.5] opening (not shown} inregister with an hing formed in container C for the passage of the gaugeline 3, as SllOWl'l ig. 9. It will be understood without in if furtherexplanation that the case 1* may he axially rotated and the gauge linemay be payed out, or reeled in, b means of the pivoted thumb piece E. r

The inslrmnent case may he provided will! a clari ing handle 2:3 andalso with a socket into which the weight 12 may he laced when theinstrument is not in use. he legs are provided with a telescopingLZ'iliHiSlOl which may be adjusted and held set screws '5" to correspendin hatch A. The are pivotally H the caseliy means of the brackefmc mayhe moved and held p05 was.

is; V ral i also in of the ca lilkl b3, clip 1 5, which the zlehesubject. 5.23MB! of and m gage or deter- Ff fi -refilled. liquids,

vary in elect":

Thus iii one mode of operation in determilig. for exzunple therespective levels of 011 a l Wale in a rank, the operator pays out thegage line 5 until he feels the Weight 12 lunch the bottom of the tank.It is eppzirent that the indication on the gage line thzii lhiullmeniscus on the line, shows the upper nil lPVQl and lhus indicates thetotal height of the oil and water. The pressure of he Arnie?) in hehottoiu of the tank UpiI'ul'fG electrical connection 7 hiding Contactmemwall of the tank and the; when the push opt-rated a circuit is closedfrom source of power 17 and lhrough the lllaliL'llt li' The deflectionof she needle of the instrument 13, due lo the passage of \fllliffliiihrough the circuit indicatesthc presence 'f ihe mixer. The operatorthen Ii. ii Elie gage line 2" lil'lill he observes thei the runomei rneedle has returned to zero Xll h inlimies that the circiiiL has beenhruiicn ls) reason ul' rheconmct iiien'iher l2 harm ll drawn out of thewater into ihv nil. 1e opm-aim' observes the reading an he line :ai ihismint and it is apparent ills? the ne residing shows the depth the oilstrata and 'lll'dl the diil'erencc beon the first a; secend readingsindiills ilml.

imm A gagel into (h liquid Milli rmd the depth on :he :ige line when hefirst gets a con- Slllll'llllll deflccliion of ihe needle ra'used by thepoint offhe weight coming in contact Willi the surface of the Waterbelowlhc oil. This gives him the depth of oil in the tank. He can thengage the full depth of liquid in the tank in the usual manner, bylowering the Weight until it touches the bottom. This will be indicatedboth by the feel of the gage line and also by the wider deflection ofthe galvsnometer.

y my apparatus it is possible to ascertain the water level with a veryhigh degree of accuracy, a very slight, film of oil separating the point12 from the water be ing suflicient to insulate the weight 12 so as tobreak The current.

In the use of my invention it is not necessary that the liquids gaugedshould difi'er in clcctrical conductivity to the extent that v the smileresult: for my ma: ihe graduated one an insulator and the other aconductor. neiiiihcr liquid conclucmrs lymg mrirl l wily they v. Forexample. crude oil. in

liistillales and other oils are u impregnated with water or moisture losuch an extent thal they are capable of acting as conductors of anelectrical current, and when the Weight 11 is plunged in such an oil the(is flection of the galvanometer needle indicates the presence of anelectric current. But the deflection is not as great as when the weight11 comes in contact with the actual water body, the point of change indeflection of the needle denoting the line of demarcation between thewater and the oil.

When the apparatus is used in gauging liquids which are not stored inmetal tanks the electrical connection between tape line 3 and the liquidconductor mar be made in any suitable manner as by booking the conductorline 4 to a metal rod in contact with the liquids.

The connection between the conductor 4 and the liquid in the tank,Whether established through the metal tank itself or through the rod. asjust described. is referred to for convenience as a general con nection,or that the contact is connected generally to the liquid.

The device of my invention is particw larly simple and compact: it isadapted to be carried by the gager from tank to tank as he travelsthrough the tank farm. and. moreover, it does not depend on any indirectindication for the measurement of the depth of the liquid, the gage linebeing graduated from the point of the weight so that the gage lineitself constitutes a mechanical means for gaging the depth of the liquidin the tank without reference to the electrical indicator which is forthe purpose of not measuring the depth. but indicating the division linebetween liquids or the bottom of any liquid stratum.

While-my apparatus is primarily intendd for, and is described herein asapplied 0, the determination of liquid levels. it is undelstood that Iclaim herein the substantial elements of my invention regardless of theuse to which it may be put. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart that at times in the use of my apparatus a solid conductor maybecome the equivalent of a liquid conductor. For example. whendetermining the height of towers or bridges. or the depth of wells. theground may take the place of a liquid conductor.

While I have shown in dctail'the various elements of my apparatus. forthe purpose of demonstrating its method of operation. it is apparentthat mechanical variations may be made therein without departing fromthe principle of the invention.

at I claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent of the United States,is

1. A portable tank gaging instrument comprising a casing. anelectrically actuated indicator mounted in said casing. a graduatedflexible electric measuring line conductor connected to one terminal ofthe indicator and having a contact member adapted to engage the surfaceof the liquid to be measured, and means for connecting generally theopposite terminal of the indicator with the liquid to be gaged.

2. A portable tank gaging instrument comprising a casing. anelectrically actuated indicator mounted in said casing. a graduatedflexible electric measuring line conductor connected to one terminal ofthe indicator. a reel for the conductor. an electrical contact weight atthe outer end of the conductor adapted to engage the surface of theliquid to be measured. and means for connecting generall the oppositlterminal of the indicator wit the liquid to be gaged.

3. A portable tank gaging instrument comprising a casing. anelectrically actuated indicator mounted in said casing. a graduatedflexible electric measuring line conductor connected to one terminal ofthe indicator. a reel for the conductor. an electrical contact weightatthe outer end of the conductor adapted to engage the surface of theliquid to be measured. a guide pulley for the measuring line conductor,and means for connecting generally the opposite termius] of theindicator with the liquid to be gage-d.

4. A portable tank gaging instrument 'cmnprising a casing. anelectrically actuated indicator mounted in said casing. an ex tr-usiblcsupport for the instrmnent. a graduated flexible electric measuring lineconductor connected to one terminal of the indicator. a reel For thecomluctor. an electrical contact weight at the outer end of theconductor adapted to engage the surface of the liquid to be measured. aguide pulley for the mcusuring line conduc or, a sup ort for said guidepullc pivotally mounted on the casing. and means for conncctin generallythe opposite terminal of the indicator with the liquid to be gagcd.

5. A portable tank aging instrument comprising a casing. an electricallyactuated indicator therein. a graduated flexible electric measuring lineconductor connected to one terminal of the indicator. a reel within thecasing for the measuring line conductor, a guide pulley mounted on abracket ivotally attached to the casing and a con uctor connected to theopposite terminal of the indicator and adapted to be connected to a tankto be gaged.

6. A portable tank gaging instrument comprising a casing. anelectrically actuated indicator therein. a graduated flexible electricmeasuring line conductor connected to one terminal of the indicator, areel within the casing for the measuring line conductor, an electricalcontact weight at the outer end of the measuring line adapted to engagethe Surface of the liquid to be measured, a guide pulley for themeasuring line conductor, a movable bracket attached to the casing andadapted to support said guide pulley, and a conductor connected to theopposite terminal of the indicator and adapted to be connected to a tankto be ga ged.

7. A' portable electric tank gaging instrument comprising anelectrically actuated indicator having one terminal conductor adapted tobe connected generally with the liquid to be gaged and having anotherterminal conductor consisting of a graduated flexible electric measuringline, a casing for the instrument, a reel within the casing for themeasuring line conductor. an electrical contact weight at the outer endof the measuring line adapted to engage the surface of the liquid to bemeasured, a guide pulley for the measuring line. a supporting arm forthe pulley. pivotally attached to the casing, and an extensible {not orsupport for the casing.

8. A portable electric tank gaging instrument com rising an electricallyactuated indicator iiaving one terminal conductor adapted to beconnected generally with the liquid to he gaged and havin anotherterminal conductor consisting o a graduated flexible electric measuringline a casing for the instrument. a reel within the casing for themeasuring line conductor, an electrical contact Weight at the outer endof the H1835 uring line adapted to engage the surface of the liquid tohe meusurec, a guide pulley for the nieasm'i line pivotally attached ian extensible support for the ill; iil lfiltid thereto.

casing". g

9. in a rieiice ior measuring the respective lev l lying in strata anddiilcring in in. i conductivity, an electricv'all "a tuated indi atorhaving a conrluctor connected to one of its terminals and adapted to heconn 7 d generally to one of the liquid stratum rim; a graduated metalgage line connected to the other terminal of said indicator and adaptedto engage the surface of said liquid stratum. V

10. A device for measuring the respective levels of liquid lying instrata and ditl'ering in electrical conductivity comprising anelectrically actuated indicator and electrical conductors connected toup osite terminals of said indicator, one of sea contlllCllOl'S beinggraduated to constitute a measuring line and arranged to be paid outfrom said indicator into' contact with said liquid strata.

11. In a device for measuring the respective levels of liquids lying instrata ditlen ing in electrical conductivity, an electrically actuatedindicator, a conductor connected to one of the terminals of saidindicator and adapted to be connected to the liquid strata so that aconductor stratum may be placed in circuit with said indicator, and agraduated metal gage line connected to the other terminal of saidindicator and arranged to he paid out into contact with the liquidstrata.

12. In a device for measuring the respective levels of liquids lying instrata of varying electrical conductivities and contained in metallicreceptacles, an electrically actuated indicator, a conductor connectedto one of the terminals of said indicator and adapted to be sanded onsaid metallic receptacle and a exible conductor connected to the otherterminal of said indicator and arranged to be paid out from theindicator into contact with the liquid strata, said flexible conductorbeing graduated to constitute a depth measuring line.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo suhscrihing witnesses.

CHARLES O. LOREN '11 I it nesses J. Srnun, R. .l. Smocn'rox.

